Bio
Essie Summers introduced me to the world of romance and New Zealand. I was fortunate enough to meet her when she gave a talk about writing for M&B in her home town. She was as lovely as the books she wrote and imparted her wisdom generously and with great humour.
After a whirlwind romance of my own - I went out with my husband for three months before we got married - I left the UK in 1980 for New Zealand. We have now lived in the North island for thirty four years and have travelled throughout both islands.
I've always loved writing stories but it wasn't until 1990
when I got the
writing guidelines from M&B that I seriously began to write.
In 1997 I went to my first RWNZ conference and what an
exciting and
exhilarating experience that was for me. Since then I've joined the
RWA
(Australia) and have had my short stories published in the Liaisons
magazine and the Little Gems Anthology.
As a nurse it seemed logical to write medical romances. But then I found I was reading more romantic suspense. I enjoyed the two elements brought together and wrote one of my own. I was thrilled when it was highly commended in the Clendon Award in 2007.
My reading is eclectic. As a teenager I devoured Georgette Heyer, Baroness Orczy and Jane Austen. Some of my favourite authors now are Dick Francis, Matthew Reilly, Lee Child, Chris Ryan, Susan Napier, Suzanne Brockmann, Miranda Lee, and Yvonne Lindsay to name a few.
Since 2009 I have been a judge for a few competitions in New Zealand and Australia. As many other authors have said, I've found it a great help with my own writing.
My family and close friends are a great support, especially my husband and twin sister. Both edit my work and give me the freedom to take time off to sit in front of my computer.